October 8, 1998
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Consultation on use of outdoors continues in Labrador

The Committee on the Use of Outdoor Resources takes its public consultation process to Labrador next week.

Meetings will be held at the Cartwright Hotel in Cartwright and the Royal Canadian Legion in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on October 13. Public consultation meetings will also be held on October 14 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Wabush and the Churchill Falls Community Centre, and October 15 at the Northern Light Inn in L'Anse au Clair. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.

The meeting originally scheduled for Ferryland on October 7 will now be held on October 19 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Ferryland, beginning at 7 p.m.

Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Rural Revitalization, heads the committee of ministers and MHAs who have been meeting with groups and individuals across the province.

Minister Tulk said he is pleased with the level of participation in the public meetings to date and is looking forward to hearing the views and concerns of residents of Labrador during the final week of the consultation process.

"All of the presentations and comments made during the meetings so far have been informative and interesting," said Minister Tulk. "The various viewpoints and concerns we have heard will be reflected in the committee's report, which we hope to complete in a timely manner."

The process provides an opportunity for people to comment on the use of outdoor resources such as fish, wildlife and the environment. Issues pertaining to outdoor use include, among others, access to rivers, community watershed management and concerns about construction of outfitters lodges.

Meetings have already been held in St. John's, Marystown, Clarenville, Placentia, Springdale, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Harbour Breton, Pasadena, Stephenville, Port Saunders and St. Anthony.

Interested groups and individuals may attend these public meetings and/or forward written submissions to Minister Tulk, c/o Committee on Use of Outdoor Resources, 2nd Floor, Confederation Building, West Block, P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NF, A1B 4J6. Submissions may also be faxed to (709) 729-5645 or e-mail: outdoor@gov.nf.ca. Deadline for written submissions is October 23.

Anyone planning on making a presentation to the committee at a public meeting is encouraged to pre-register by calling toll free 1-877-729-0084. Time will also be made available at each public meeting for comments from the floor.

Joining Minister Tulk in the consultations are committee members: Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods; Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; Ernest McLean, Minister of Government Services and Lands and Minister Responsible for Labrador; Oliver Langdon, Minister of Environment and Labour; Robert Mercer, MHA Humber East; Graham Flight, MHA Windsor-Springdale; and Ralph Wiseman, MHA Topsail.

Media Contact: Scott Reid, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

1998 10 08                                   12:50 p.m.